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Did APC purchase the AirFlow Company?

Issue:
Did APC purchase the AirFlow Company?

Product line:
Airflow

Environment:
Data Center Cooling

Cause:

Resolution:
APC purchased Airflow in 2000 and formed a Network Air Division under APC. The best place to start is to call into our technical support line to identify the parts needed. We will require a unit model and serial number and a brief description of what is needed. Our Tech line will also be able to direct you to your nearest representative and give pricing and availabilities.. Our Tech Support hot line is 888-695-6500. Below is the article announcing the acquisition.

American Power Conversion Expands Availability Solutions with Acquisition of Airflow Company

Precision Cooling Acquisition Deepens Opportunities in Fast-growing Datacenter, Internet and Telecommunications Markets WEST KINGSTON, R.I. - October 23, 2000 - American Power Conversion (NASDAQ: APCC) announced today that it has acquired privately held Airflow Company, a leading precision cooling equipment manufacturer, for $22.5 million in cash plus the assumption of up to $7.5 million in debt. Airflow Company, which will operate within APC’s Availability Enhancements Group, further strengthens APC’s stature as a leading, global, one-stop shop of availability solutions for the fast-growing datacenter, Internet, and telecommunications segments.

"With IT ‘real estate’ pushed to the limit, two of the biggest issues in today’s datacenters are power and heat. As the power density continues to grow, so too does the demand for compact, highly efficient cooling solutions," said Rodger B. Dowdell, Jr., APC’s president and CEO. "The marriage of APC and Airflow is a win-win, providing APC with entry into the precision cooling business while leveraging APC’s global scale, manufacturing efficiencies, management technology and brand recognition to enhance Airflow’s competitive position and drive synergistic growth."

According to industry and APC estimates, Airflow is currently the second largest provider in the approximately $800 million global precision cooling market. The industry is currently anticipated to have a growth rate of greater than 30 percent annually.

Similar to power disruptions, temperature and humidity are well known culprits in threatening the performance and availability of IT and telecommunications equipment. According to Strategic Research Corporation, eight percent of all computer downtime issues are caused by cooling problems. Precision cooling solutions are specifically designed for applications that are sensitive to temperature and humidity, such as IT and telecommunications applications. A precision cooling device goes beyond commercial building air conditioning or "comfort cooling" equipment to help enhance availability of critical IT and telecommunications systems through the precise control of temperature and humidity, system redundancy and the ability to be co-located with the equipment it is protecting.

Airflow’s product line includes floor and ceiling-mounted precision cooling systems as well as management systems used in a variety of applications including datacenters, co-location facilities and telecommunication stations. Airflow is recognized throughout the industry for its highly efficient cooling products, which reduce electricity costs as well as minimize the need for additional equipment to manage humidity levels. Its solutions also offer one of the smallest footprints in the industry.

"Since 1997, APC has made a number of strategic investments to expand our reach into the enterprise and telecommunications markets including the development of the patented Symmetra® Power Array(TM) technology, the acquisitions of three-phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) manufacturer Silcon A/S and DC power system company Advance Power, as well as the expansion of our global services and consulting organization," continued Dowdell. "Today’s announcement is a continuation of this strategy which enables our multi-national customers to standardize on APC for virtually all of their global datacenter power and cooling needs."

"With its expansive global presence and impressive brand awareness in key customer segments, APC is the ideal match to help expand the reach of our globally compatible product set," said Ed Donofrio, general manager Airflow Company.

For the fourth quarter 2000 this transaction is expected to contribute approximately $4 to $5 million in incremental revenues and be slightly dilutive to neutral to earnings per share. Airflow Company, which was founded in 1959, is based in Fredrick, Maryland and employs more than 300 people. Airflow’s fiscal year 2000 revenue was $35.4 million, an increase of 85 percent over fiscal year 1999 revenue of $19.1 million.

Safe Harbor Provision Statements contained in this press release, which are not historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those projected. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: APC’s ability to successfully integrate Airflow Company, ABL and Advance Power’s operations; the timely development and acceptance of new products; ramp up, expansion and rationalization of global manufacturing capacity; general worldwide economic conditions; growth rates in the power protection industry and related industries, including but not limited to the PC, server, networking, telecommunications and enterprise hardware industries; competitive factors and pricing pressures; changes in product mix; changes in the seasonality of demand patterns; inventory risks due to shifts in market demand; the effects of any other possible acquisitions; component constraints and shortages; risk of nonpayment of accounts receivable; the uncertainty of the litigation process including risk of an unexpected, unfavorable result of current or future litigation; financial impact during any period of the Company’s licensing of certain patent rights from General Signal Power Systems and from Anthony F. Coppola; and the risks described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About American Power Conversion Founded in 1981, American Power Conversion (NASDAQ: APCC) is a leading provider of global, end-to-end availability enhancement solutions which include surge suppressors, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), DC-based power systems, cabling and connectivity solutions, power conditioning equipment, related software, professional and consulting services for Nonstop Networking™, as well as power purchasing solutions through energyOn.com, The World's Online Energy Store. APC's comprehensive products, services and accessory offering, which is designed for both home and corporate environments, improves the availability, manageability and performance of sensitive electronic, network, communication and industrial equipment of all sizes. APC, which is headquartered in West Kingston, Rhode Island, reported sales of $1.337 billion for the year ended December 31, 1999 and is a Fortune 1000 and S&P 500 company.